Knitting is a gift you can give away time and time again – not just physical items, although of course those are lovely but the skills you've learned. Christine Taylor sent us her story about passing skills on from one generation to the next.
My Mum taught me to knit when I was five or six years old, she says. This was at the time when knitting was taught in primary schools – boys and girls started off knitting dishcloths.
My mum knitted all my jumpers, some patterned, some plain, and my dad sewed my skirts – he pleated the material and sewed it on to a kind-of vest top. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was around thirteen.
I carried on to teach all of my children to knit – three girls and a boy. I think they could still pick it up again and one girl still sometimes knits things and
can be quite creative in her designs.
My passion (as it became) for knitting has led me on to forming a craft club that meets once a month, mostly for knitters, where we make things for our own use, but also for charity.
I hope someone will remember me teaching them to knit and crochet – I am always grateful to the people that started me off.
This is a great reminder that you can share your skills with people of any age – whether it's your kids, your friends or even your own mum or grandma. After all, whatever they say you can teach an old dog new tricks.
We’d love to hear your stories about the people who inspired you to start knit – or to keep on – knitting or helped you on your way. Send your stories and photos to simplyknitting@futurenet.com
Thursday March 11, 2010 
